Photo Expeditions

Autumn Nature Photography Workshop
Camp Denali in August, 2014

Over the years Mark Kelley has led photo expeditions and workshops in some of Alaska’s most beautiful settings for Dolphin Charters, Glacier Bay Cruise Lines, Cruise West, and Camp Denali & North Face Lodge. Contact us to schedule Mark for your next custom photo tour.

Bears, Glaciers, and Whales 2020

About Mark

“As a kid in Buffalo, New York, I always wondered what it would be like to encounter a whale,” says Mark Kelley. “I moved north in 1974 and four years later graduated from the University of Alaska with a journalism degree. During those college years in Fairbanks, Alaska, I would skip the first week of school to photograph wildlife in Denali National Park as fall colors in Denali are magical.”
In 1985 Mark Kelley started his work towards a master’s degree in photojournalism at Ohio University, where he was awarded the Paul Schutzer Memorial Award. Mark joined the staff at the Juneau Empire, Juneau’s only daily newspaper, as a photojournalist for thirteen years before pursuing a full-time career in nature and wildlife photography.

Mark is first and foremost a photojournalist. He travels light and most of his images are hand-held, as he tries to focus on the story in the scene that he happens upon. As an Alaska resident, he can wait for years for the parameters of an envisioned shot to be just right. Inspired to be in the right place at the right time, and year in and year out if that is what it takes, he will persevere until he gets his shot.

“I love sharing my knowledge of Alaska with fellow photographers. It is not easy to learn all the how’s, where’s, and when’s in this vast state. I always recommend connecting with locals in order to gather all the details necessary to place yourself in the right spot at the right time for your next best photo.”

Waiting for Bears, Pack Creek 2013

Reviews

“I really liked Mark as the workshop leader. He has a way of dealing with each person. He was calm while at the same time showing leadership. I recommend him as a leader for another workshop. The entire trip was so good I’m coming back next year!” – Paul

Sunset in Glacier Bay 2017

“I was very impressed with Mark Kelley as a workshop leader. He was personable, easy to talk to, had a great sense of humor, and was charmingly modest for a man of his accomplishments. He had a great deal to offer regarding technical details of photography” – Ralph

Sukakpak Mountain, March 2019

“As a kid in Buffalo, New York, I always wondered what it would be like to encounter a whale,” says Mark Kelley. Learn more about Mark...